Mayor presents Civic Awards to residents who ‘have gone the extra mile’
Alnwick Mayor’s Civic Awards are always one of the highlights of the Mayor’s term of office as the ceremony gives recognition to ‘those who have gone the extra mile for Alnwick and its residents’.
As Alnwick Town Mayor, Councillor Geoff Watson explained: “This is my last official duty of the year and it is important that, through the Town Council, we give formal recognition to the people who give their time and effort for the benefit of others.”
A Youth Award was the first to be presented and the recipient was Connie Fairclough who has become well-known at the Duchess’s Community High School for being a proactive positive role-model for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Connie wrote and delivered an excellent assembly on ASD and neuro-divergence, giving students a perspective into the ways that autism affects young people and how to support students with ASD.
Connie has been an outstanding role model to students in school and has helped young people and staff alike to engage in open conversations (and ask questions) about both ASD and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Youth Civic Award to Connie Fairclough.
The next award went to Andy Hunt whose work at the Alnwick Playhouse makes him a familiar face to many. Local amateur dramatics groups and organisations who use the Playhouse space are put at ease with his professionalism and warmth and for more than a decade, Andy has worked to support young people in Alnwick with an interest in being on, behind or above the stage.
Outside work, Andy has been a member of Alnwick Round Table for many years and is currently Chair. His work as an elf for Santa’s Sleigh and keeper of ducks at Alnwick Duck Race have not gone unnoticed, the events themselves bringing in £1,000s for local causes. It is Andy’s enthusiasm and dedication to Alnwick that made him a worthy recipient of a Mayor’s Civic Award.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Andy Hunt
Outstanding commitment to Alnwick Town Juniors saw James Milligan receive the next award.
James is part of the team of volunteers at the football club and for a decade he has led at least one team every season giving youngsters in the town the opportunity to play football in a safe and welcoming environment. He also excels in his other role of groundsman at Greensfield and spends countless hours maintaining the grass playing surfaces which are undoubtedly some of the best in the north east.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to James Milligan
For over 30 years’ dedicated service to local services with Northumberland County Council, Bob Hodgson was presented with a Mayor’s Civic Award.
Starting as a bin man, Bob has progressed to now being County Council Area Manager for Waste Services for Alnwick District, Castle Morpeth & Berwick Borough Areas. He is the only Area Manager that continues to look after two former District Council Areas covering a huge area from Berwick in the North, Amble in the South, then the Coquet Valley and College Valley to the West. His knowledge of all NCC services is vast, and he is well regarded by all those he works with – be it a contact negotiation or dealing with a grass cutting complaint from a resident.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Bob Hodgson
Dave Bonser and Gill Starkey have been the Chairman and Secretary of the popular Alnwick Spring Show for many years and have been the driving force behind the continuing success of this major event in Alnwick’s calendar.
They are stepping down from these roles and in recognition of their dedicated service they both were presented with Mayor’s Civic Awards.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Dave Bonser and Gill Starkey.
The Alnwick Garden, which now includes Lilidorei, operates under the stewardship of CEO, Mark Brassell who has played a central role in developing the Alnwick Garden charity programme which strives to reduce social isolation, increases young people’s employment chances, provides drugs education and aims to combat the impact of loneliness and isolation.
The community programme which includes the Elderberries Group, Roots & Shoots, Employability & Enterprise and the Young Gardeners programme, has improved the well-being of our most vulnerable community members.
For his continual commitment to the betterment of Alnwick and its community Mark received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Mark Brassell
For his dedication, warmth and tireless enthusiasm in the promotion of gardening George Swordy, received a Mayor’s Civic Award.
George has been at the Alnwick Garden for 16 years tending the Roots & Shoots allotment which offers gardening opportunities for young and old alike. From first time gardeners like the school children who come and learn about sowing, planting out, growing and eating food to George’s ‘gentleman’s garden’ which offers gardening activities and companionship to older people, including those with dementia, George’s passion for gardening is clear for all to see.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to George Swordy.
The first Group Civic Award went to members of Alnwick Garden Club which has been a feature of Alnwick, providing informative and interesting talks and demonstrations for its members for many years.
Led by one of its founders, Tom Pattinson, the club provides an important social gathering opportunity for its members.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to members of Alnwick Garden Club.
The next recipients of a Mayor’s Civic Award were the Duchess Community High School BOOST Charity which offers activities and support services for secondary school aged young people in the Alnwick catchment area, helping students to reach their full potential.
Projects include the Discretionary Hardship fund, Acorn project, Open Book project, Sexual Health advice, Breakfast Club and the Well-being project.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Duchess Community High School BOOST.
The Rotary Club of Alnwick was formed in 1938. Over the years they have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and organisations operating on a local, national and international level, including the Great North Air Ambulance, local schools and Hospice Care North Northumberland.
The club continues to have a significant impact on the well-being of the Alnwick community with including annual planting of 8,000 purple crocus bulbs to support the Rotary’s national eradication of polio programme.
For their continued steadfast support of the town of Alnwick and its people Alnwick Rotary Club received a Mayors Civic Award.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to the Rotary Club of Alnwick.
The final group award went to the Story Fest volunteers.
Alnwick Story Fest was born out of an idea by Suzy Walker which became a reality in 2023 when the first festival took place in Alnwick. The aim of the festival was to transform Alnwick into the story capital of the north where stories will come to life, imaginations fired and literature, ideas and the written word would be celebrated.
This year’s festival attracted writing royalty including Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
It relies on volunteers who have fulfilled a variety of tasks from supporting the writers; co-ordinating and managing events at various locations; supporting backstage operations, transporting authors and promoting the events.
Pictured: Mayor Councillor Geoff Watson presents a Civic Award to Alnwick Story Fest volunteers.
The Mayor concluded the evening by saying “I offer my congratulations to all the award winners – a town is not just a geographical area, it is a community, and you are what makes our Alnwick community so valuable. Well done everyone.”